This project uses an oyster bioenergetics model (Figure 1) to determine optimum growing conditions for Maryland oysters based on water quality at potential lease sites. Users will be able to get information to enter into the tool from publicly available data sources such as Maryland’s Eyes on the Bay. Along with abiotic variables such as temperature and salinity ranges, users will be able to enter values to estimate food abundance for the proposed leases. The tool will include other variables such as bottom type and distance from land-based facilities to evaluate sites. Based on user inputs, potential leases will receive a numerical score that can be compared between sites to estimate which is better to grow oysters.